When are Rights, Wrong? - Part 2

1st Amendment to the Constitution:

"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances."

Last night the issue was freedom of speech. Tonight, it is freedom of religion. The first amendment, as part of the Bill of Rights, addresses what Congress cannot do. Neither this one nor the following amendments were designed to give the citizens rights. It was understood that the citizens already had their rights - "...that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights." (Declaration of Independence). The Bill of Rights was deemed necessary as a way to spell out specific areas where the Federal Government cannot go. The list of rights, in the first eight amendments was also not meant to be all-inclusive. Amendment 9 - "The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparge others retained by the people."

The Constitution gives the three branches of the Federal Government certain and specific responsibilities and authority. Whatever was not given, by the Constitution, to the Federal Government, was reserved to the various state governments or to the people.

The first amendment states that Congress cannot pass any law that has to do with the establishment of a religion. In other words, in the United States, there is not to be any specific religion that is sponsored by Congress. There can be no "National Religion". It goes on to instruct Congress that they cannot pass any law to prohibit the free exercise of religion, by the people.

The "wall of separation between religion and government" is not a part of the Constitution. The Constitution does not say that there can be no religious activities on public property or as a part of government functions. This notion of "the wall" was invented later in our history and has now grown to a point where only rarely is there any form of religion associated with any level of government or any other public entity, such as public schools.

Washington, the ACLU, atheist organizations and others have been busy over the past 50 years getting religion out of public view. We have heard of a church in Phoenix being prohibited from ringing their church bells. We have heard of cities prohibiting home Bible studies in residential neighborhoods. The trend has been more regulation to restrict the free exercise of religion. This is, of course, with some exceptions.

A notable exception, across the country, is found with the Islam religion. For some reason, it seems that Muslims are being granted more freedom and flexibility than the Christian churches. Have you ever heard of a Muslim gathering being cancelled due to city restrictions on their activities? Have you ever heard of Muslims being told that they cannot announce the daily calls to prayer over loud speakers? Why are Muslims being granted special rules as pertain to airport security screening? Would you ever think, for a second, that you could cover your face when your photo is being taken for your "photo ID" or your driver's license?

Why are so many trying so hard to bend over backwards to placate and appease the Muslims? Because, after all, aren't they "the religion of peace"? If you doubt that, just look at the middle east. See how well they play with their neighbors in Israel. Learn from their example of reaching across the aisle, between the tribes, in Iraq. Notice how, when they decide to blow people to pieces, how careful they are to not hurt fellow Muslims. Listen to how much love there is between Iran and the Jews. Peace, peace, as far as the eye can see!

Also, pay no attention to the things their leaders say, such as: wanting to wipe Israel off of the map, believing that all Christians should be killed, seeing the United States as the great Satan and Israel as the little Satan, cheering as they watched the twin towers crumble on 9/11, and their tremendous respect for the females in their society. Remember "honor killings"?

The Islam religion, along with their Sharia Law, is not conducive to co-mingling with Christian religions or the Jews. How many Islam religious leaders in the U.S. loudly and adamantly spoke out against the acts of terrorism conducted on American soil on 9/11, or any of the others since? When some Muslim does speak out, he is so rare that it gets a lot of attention.

Freedom of religion has close ties to freedom of speech. How tolerant should we be in the United States to a religion that promotes terrorist acts, preaches the elimination of Israel, believes that all Infidels (whoever does not receive the Islam faith) should be killed? As we discussed last night, how far can people go in what they say before they have crossed the line and left Constitutionally protected territory?

We, in America, appear to be granting special favors to a "religion" that favors the fundamental transformation of our country from the basics it was founded upon to an unrecognizable nation. They are anti-capitalists, anti-Christian promoters of violence. They view women as property. They prey on the poor and uneducated to entice them to become suicide bombers. Are you aware that leaving the religion of Islam is punishable by death? Why are they set on building a 13-story mosque next to "ground zero" in NY City? Why is NY City allowing them to proceed?

What about this religion fits into this country, the way it was founded? This kind of "peace" we do not need!

So, should we rewrite Amendment One? Is there a way to deal with the fastest growing religion in the world? No, the Bill of Rights are just fine, as written. We need to apply the same conclusion we reached last night. They are not free to promote the destruction of the United States. They cannot teach that non-believers should all be killed. They cannot get away with hate speech any more than anyone else. If they are found to be promoting or teaching the over-throw of America, the killing of those who disagree, etc.; they should be treated the same way a right-wing, black guy or left-wing white guy would be treated. It should be treated as criminal behavior. There should be arrests and prosecution and punishment.

If they want to be here, fine, just get along and fit in. If you believe different than me, fine, just respect my faith and actually be a religion of peace. Muslims have no right to diminish the rights of non-Muslims. If they promote doing so, then they must be stopped with the full force of the law, backed by our Constitution. They do not have a level of rights that supersedes mine!